Last year we saw a Karnataka man named Panditrao Dharennavar, who is an assistant professor in Sociology at Government College, Sector 46 Chandigarh, campaigning against the glorification of drugs, alchohol and ammunition in Punjabi songs. Though all over the news, but this man had a rather anti-effect on the singers because January 2018 saw more 'peg' related songs than ever before.

But after the recent incident wherein a Hoshiarpur girl got killed by a celebratory gunfire, Punjab Police couldn't wait any further. Worried that songs glorifying liquor and violence may have an adverse effect on the impressionable minds of youngsters, Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora has directed all district SSPs to meet singers living in their areas and appeal about avoiding singing objectionable lyrics.

“We are telling singers that they should understand their social responsibility. As liquor, arms and ammunition are glorified in songs these days, many people, especially the youth, tend to follow them and indulge in criminal activities,” Batala SSP Opinderjit Singh Ghuman said. We are asking them not to glamourise liquor, weapons or gangsters in their songs or videos, he added.

On February 10, SSP Ghuman met a the popular Punjabi singer Ranjit Bawa in Batala and sought his support to ensure that songs replete with references to weapons and drugs are not churned out. Bawa, on his Facebook page, praised the initiative of Punjab Police and hoped that offensive lyrics do not find place in Punjabi songs in future.

Another noted Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi of ‘Dil le gayee Kudi Gujarat di’ fame also appreciated the initiative. “I have been raising voice against objectionable lyrics for the last 10 years. Such effort should have been made earlier to save our youth,” Jassi said